Congratulations and Welcome to Aalto University!
Here are some frequently asked questions.
Please see all up to date information on admissions and the beginning of your studies on Aalto’s website (aalto.fi) or by contacting Aalto’s Admissions Services (admissions (at) aalto.fi) or your programme’s student services.
♣Student housing
- Two student housing organizations: Ayy & Hoas. Please apply for both once you accept the study offer. New students have higher priorities for getting a student housing. Please be aware that Ayy and Hoas could not accommodate all students.
When will I get a housing offer?
- Ayy (Aalto Student Union) will only provide a housing offer one month prior to your request, for example, if you request to start on 01.08, the offer will be given in July not before.
Can I move in few days before the lease starts?
- It depends, for Ayy, if the tenant moved out earlier, you might get the key few days before.
How much does it cost?
- It depends on the type, size, location of the room and the age of leasing building. Both Ayy & Hoas have student housing in Helsinki and Espoo, some close to Otaniemi campus, some not at all. The building address and information are listed on the website. Generally, a single room in the shared apartment or an ensuite single room with a shared kitchen in the common area costs around 250-350 euros. The rent of a studio usually starts from 450 euros.
What if I don’t receive an housing offer before coming to Helsinki?
- You can apply for emergency housing in Ayy.
- Looking for housing in private market
Unfurnished rooms for degree students
- The furnished room is usually only provided for exchange students. For degree students, most of rooms have only a closet. A studio room and a shared apartment might have more, such as stove, oven, kitchen cabinets. Please be prepared that you will need some time to buy furniture before the school starts.
Where to get second-hand furniture?
- second-hand cheap furniture and utilities from the Recycling Centres .They have a big shop in Espoo, where a lot of students go in the beginning of the semester. AYY is also doing a collaboration with them where you can rent different “packages” and return them later.
- Teekkarikylän Markkinat | Teknologbyns marknad | Teekkari Village’s Market “The group is aimed at the people of Aalto and Teekkarikylä/Otaniemi.”
- Helsinki Rent, Sell, Lend, Give away
- UFF & Fida
You can find these two second-hand stores in Helsinki and Espoo, they sell clothes, shoes, kitchen cutlery, curtains and so on. Fida provides student discount.
♣Study residence permit
- All non-EU international students have to apply for a study residence permit. Please apply it through Finnish immigration office (Migri). The law and regulations has changed, if you have any questions related to a study residence permit, please contact immigration office for updated and accurate information.
♣Living expense per month
- The school suggests 800 euros per month.
- The rent is explained as above.
- Public transportation: 32.80 euros per month (AB zone, student discount)
- Student meal: 2.6 euros per meal. The student meals are provided not limited to Aalto campus. Every student (not included PhD) can have student meals everywhere in Finland, in other universities, or any restaurants providing it. Some restaurants are also open on Saturday. Please download the app “Kanttiinit”, which shows daily menu and locations of each restaurant in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. Students get discount for coffees in the student canteen as well.
- App – Kanttiinit shows everyday menu of each restaurant with student meals.
- Student cafeteria on campus
- Dine out: generally, a dish starts from around 10 euros. Some of them provides student discounts.
- Study materials – most of mandatory readings are provided in PDF documents on mycourses. (a platform for courses materials)
♣Job opportunity
Can I get a summer job?
- How to Find a Summer Job in Finland?
- Aalto provides Career Services
Can I get a part-time job?
- Yes, if you’re active, it’s possible to get a part-time job in the university and in cities. It’s also possible to get one if you don’t speak Finnish. Helsinki is quite an international city.
- Check Facebook group International Jobseekers in Helsinki. The pinned post shows useful links for job searching.
- Check student experience: how I get part-time jobs inside campus
When can I discuss my study plan?
- You can discuss your study plan with the program director and study coordinator in the beginning of first semester.
Student insurance
- The immigration office has clear information and suggests insurance companies.
Student Health Care
- The enrollment fee includes the student health care service provided by YTHS. There are two student health care centers in Töölö and Otaniemi. Most of services are free of charge, unless it requires a specialized doctor appointment, such as dentist and dermatologist and etc.
- Services free of charge
- Services subject to charge
Gym and sports activities
- there are a lot of different sports organisations at Aalto, and there is also UniSport (student discount for yearly membership fee, 145 euros)
- Price in Unisport
Tutors from each program
Each program has two or several tutors of 2ndor 3-year students to help new students in the summer and the beginning of first semester. Tutors will contact new students in June. They will organize activities, answer questions and provide guidance.
Campus Tour
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZJWZpYkKnM[/embedyt]
- About Otaneimi Campus, how to book a space and where to look for lunch:
How to get student ID & IT account?
- You can activate your IT account online from Aug 1st.
- If you can’t activate it online, please contact Aalto Student Services. You can also visit starting point inside campus to activate it.
Other information:
- How to settle down for new Aalto students? (Information might be different after 2 years)
Check FAQs Part 2.
You can ask our squad members about student life through this email: aaltosquad(at)aalto.fi
Wish everyone a smooth trip to Finland and an amazing start in Aalto University.
Greetings,
Aalto Squad.
(Information collected from Aalto Squad Members and edited by Hsiao-Pei Liao)
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